1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of confuse
Gadgets like laser watches and smoke bombs confused guards.
—
Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
In such a large, complex, dangerous, and confusing world, can one person make a difference to anything?
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
And so an urban tunnel not only blocks some satellites, but confuses the listeners as to which are direct or reflected signals.
—Steve Tengler, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Food for thought, not to be confused with thoughts for food.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
In such a large, complex, dangerous, and confusing world, can one person make a difference to anything?
—Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
And so an urban tunnel not only blocks some satellites, but confuses the listeners as to which are direct or reflected signals.
—Steve Tengler, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Food for thought, not to be confused with thoughts for food.
—Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
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And aren’t our real-life romantic complications bewildering enough?—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Its ginormous investments in higher-value, tech-heavy sectors from smartphones to autos to semiconductors to biotechnology are disrupting the global landscape at bewildering speed.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That means your contract will be administered by a third party, American Auto Shield, which can complicate the claims approval process.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
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There are a number of majority-minority districts in blue states as well which, if viewed by the Court as unconstitutionally created, could further complicate blue-state efforts to respond to Texas-style extreme gerrymandering.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Stroke symptoms, risk factors in young adults Certain symptoms of stroke in young people like nausea, dizziness or tiredness are often dismissed or mistaken for migraines or stress, Shapiro said, which can delay critical treatment.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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And do not mistake a loud minority for legal or economic truth.—
Essence,
Essence,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, then came an ugly post-game brawl that has gone viral on social media all over the world.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
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Ultimately, the Eagles embarrassed the Chiefs, shutting them out 24-0 in the first half, and captured a 40-22 win.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the same time, concern is growing about how certain food additives and preservatives may disrupt the gut’s delicate balance.—
Abby Norman,
Verywell Health,
9 Sep. 2025
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Anders is disrupting financial services.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many historians have been perplexed by how such a seemingly simple man as Shakespeare could have written works of such grandeur and depth.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Aug. 2025
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Norman is perplexed by shootings like this.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Usually, Meghan has posted photos of their children with their faces blurred out, or in poses where their face is unseen.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ratti’s brand of optimism has always blurred the line between big data and surveillance, and, as a robotics pioneer, he’s also long gravitated toward the post-human, the dream of a world made and managed by machines.—
Kate Wagner,
Curbed,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Brozena was not flustered, winning 16 and 18 to end the match.—
Boston Herald staff,
Boston Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
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One is that the leader may have been caught by surprise and is flustered, out of their Window of Tolerance.—
Dr. Joel Rothaizer,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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